Game Informer: White Knight Chronicles Review

White Knight Chronicles is a game caught between genres. It frames many classic Japanese RPG tropes – the unexpectedly powerful boy hero, the kidnapped princess, the shadowy and insidious magical organization – in an equally familiar single-player gameplay structure. At the same time, the game offers a deep multiplayer component, delivering MMO-style combat and quests for players to tackle with up to three friends. The gameplay that emerges isn't very compelling, but there is a large world, a deep skill system, and a whole lot of combat for anyone with the patience to make it through.

[APOFISBORICUA]

Count me in then. I am waiting for an RPG that urges my clasical oldies feel. I been playing Eternal Sonata on my 360 and the only JRPG that looks and plays like an oldie on any platform is Lost Odyssey. That game is underrated IMO. I dont like modern RPGs like Mass Effect, even if it comes to the PS3 eventualy. i have enjoyed both Demons Souls and Valkyria Cronicles but I want an oldies fix to my games...like Dragon Quest if possible. Looking at how bad FF13 is being previewed I think that the best game for me seems to be White Knigth Cronicles. The media complains if its new or if its classical. I just play them both and decide myself.

PEACE AND GAMING!!!!

[Rush]

Yeah am a little more happy with this score then gamespots. If a few 8's are threw in from the bigger websites count me in.

Although I can't get it until the 26th of this month I think. Since Europe doesn't see it until then sadly...

I have been looking forward to this game for way over a year now, they have patched it alot and improved many aspects. So I was hoping for 8's across the board.

I would love to just buy the game and review it myself but am on a tight budget. So sadly I need to know am going to enjoy it before I make the purchase.

[firelogic]

Yeah ok. 7.25 is acceptable but 6 isn't? Get real. Forget the score. All you really need to know is this part:
"However, for interesting combat, deep characters, and an engaging fantasy, I’d look elsewhere."

[Rush]

O am sorry I didn't know that this reviewers opinion = fact

Guess I will have to look elsewhere for my next enjoyable JRPG fix.

/sarcasm

[hazardman]

Would you say Lost Odyssey is the best JRPG you've played this gen?? Before you guys disagree, I am only asking a ? Damn!!!

[Homicide]

@firelogic, I'm amazed they gave it a 7.25 after saying that.

[Elven6]

Why are people surprised, when it originally released in Japan it didn't do to great either on the reviews side of things IIRC, I guess most of those issues just couldn't be fixed.

[blu_yu_away]

Lost Odyssey is certainly the best jrpg I've played this gen. As a whole the genre has been severely lacking and LO was the only one I've played which has kept my interest throughout. It is a very underrated game IMO.

[Immortal Kaim]

Add me to the list. Lost Odyssey is my favourite JRPG this gen as well. Frankly the 1000 years of dreams is one of the most beautiful, impeccably written and profound aspects of any game I have ever played. Severely underrated in my opinion.

[lephunk]

Valkyria Chronicles count?

[tinybigman]

Valkyria Chronicles is my favorite RPG this gen followed by Fire Emblem and Mass Effect(this being the best wrpg) the rest are crap. i've always loved Level 5 rpgs and i already have this game paid for and will enjoy this just like their other ones.

its really sad that people cant make up their own minds on what games they want to buy and play; they have to wait for someone else's opinion on whether to buy a game or not. i know i work hard for my money and i'll buy whatever games interests me without regret.

anyone interested in playing this online send invite

PSN-Aceman108

[Alan Wake]

another FLOP from sony hahahahahahahhahahaaha

PS3 Flop year will be Contenue

waiting for next Flop of the year

[Vagrant_1]

Couldn't have said it better **bubbles**

[HOSe]

how can you write a 5 paragraph review for a game that probably takes 500-1,000 hours to completely finish? i feel like this reviewer just watched videos of this game and formed this review that reveals absolutely nothing /end rant

[-Alpha]

You don't need to play 500 hours to understand the game, nor do you have to play it completely, especially if you are talking about an RPG. Sorry man, I'm just as disappointed as you are. The review may be short but that doesn't mean the guy didn't play it.

[Homicide]

It is for a magazine, and the game doesn't take 500 hours to complete.

[Towers76]

I find it odd that a full review for a game featuring a significant online component would appear prior to the game's network even going live.

[LordMarius]

.....everything is a conspiracy
this is Game Informer not an unknown site

[LordMarius]

Kind of jealous right about now
while 360/PC owners get ME2 we get MAG and this.....
ugh Heavy Rain cant come soon enough

[Nikuma]

Get a 360 or PC then. Problem solved.

[LordMarius]

no thanks
one console is all that I need
Getting a 360 will be like downgrading IMO
and a PC...well I dont have the money for that yet

[hazardman]

I for 1 thought Heavy Rain was gonna get great reviews, but it's not blowing anyone away really..Either way i hope that if you get it you enjoy it..I for one I'm hoping Sega releases Shenmue ..which Heavy Rain and so many other QTE games aspire to be..

[callahan09]

What's to feel jealous about? The 360 got 1 great game this year, while the PS3 got 2. Just because WKC and MAG didn't light it up in the review scores doesn't mean they're not great games. I have both, and I love both. And by the way, both MAG and WKC will last you more hours than Mass Effect 2, no contest. ME2 may be a masterpiece of craft, but it simply doesn't have as many hours of fun to offer as WKC and MAG for those who like those games. Here's what a 7.25 means according to Game Informer's guidelines, it basically means that if you're a fan of the genre, you should play this game. Traditionally styled JRPG's are not the most popular genre outside of Final Fantasy, so a 7.25 to me means that if you don't like this genre, you probably won't have your mind changed by this game, it's not a must-play for everyone, but if you're a fan of the genre, this is a game to check out. I would agree with that assessment. I am indeed a fan of the genre, and this is a great game to me. Don't let your opinion be decided for you by critics, check out the games for yourself!

[ceedubya9]

The online portion of the game really interests me. Plus, its made by Level 5, who has a pretty good track record. Looking forward to my first shot at this game.

[kewlkat007]

...never really got the Online part of it.

[Chaos Striker]

The online portion is basically like an MMO. You use the character that you created in the main game and party up with other people online. Then you go and do quests to get online exclusive items that can be used in the offline portion of the game. You are also able to build your own town with your own npc's that sell certain things based on the npc's that you recruit in the offline portion. That is basically a summary of what to expect for the online portion. Hope that helps.

[Sigh]

-

[Sigh]

I subbed to someone who got the game already. She uploaded the gameplay vid co-op online, with some voice chat. Pretty neat:

[Shadow Man]

FableII>White Knight

[shutupandplay]

Yes. Even though I never played WKC.

[Lou Ferrigno]

cant WAIT for this game.. thats the great thing about what sony does different then its weak competition..
SCE and its partners (developers) creat games according to its fans and what the FANS WANT and are looking/asking for.

MAG for example is a tactical FPS DREAM and EXTREAMLY addicting within moments of the first battle,however,the media and its biased stench doesnt agree.

and the same is now with white night chronicles too,WKC is a calssic RPG gamers DREAM!,however,the media seems to dissagree to an extent and doesnt live up to the mainstream standards.

i encourage ANY huge Tactical FPS fan to grab MAG asap!.. and i encourage EVERY SINGLE Jrpg gamer that loves the old school style japanese RPG elements blended with a tint of modern rpg elements to grab WKC asap!

[-Alpha]

Not only are you making irrelevant points (MAG has nothing to do with this), but you are also wrong.

A good amount of Level 5 fans, myself included, wanted Dark Cloud 3. Now, I'm all for new IPs but the whole premise of this game doesn't compare to the brilliancy of Dark Cloud.

Nobody asked for WKC and I'm sure as hell Level 5 didn't make this game because some fans asked for it. They decided as a team to make this game much like how Naughty Dog decided to make Uncharted. The difference is that it didn't pay off for Level 5.

It's tough, but let's not disillusion ourselves and spin the facts around. Not everything Sony-related has to be hyped as something from God.

[PooEgg]

Although I like Game Informer a lot, I don't often agree with their JRPG scores, so I'll take this one with a grain of salt and judge on my own.

[Valcore01]

@PooEgg

You got it exactly right. The whole point of a review is to HELP YOU form YOUR OWN opinion on a game. Peoples have different tastes, what the reviewer doesn't like may be the very thing you like most. If you aren't sure if you will like it just rent it, or go to a friends house and try it out. You miss out on a lot of great games if you just take a reviewers opinion.

[Crystallis]

Demons souls>fableII

[shutupandplay]

Yes.

[Montrealien]

both > you

[Flare149]

I really don't think the review takes the multiplayer into too much consideration. I mean, it rates the replay as moderately low and often game reviewers don't count the multiplayer in their score or anything because then they'd have to count of for single player games not having it. That said I could see it not getting super score, but 7 is definitely not a bad score (it'd be 4/5) and as someone else said about the multiplayer not being online, I'm pretty sure everyone could get a feel for it, especially after hours of co-op with friends

[hihosilver]

ive seen 2 good review and 2 ok its lookds awesome and an ok story , plu the trophies are very time consuming

[tulholdren]

Thx sony another RPG not a Shooter RPG..Can't wait ti build my own town I'm have dark cloud flash backs

[shutupandplay]

Looks like my predictions of the 360 taking 2010 are true. I`ll probably pick up heavy rain. Definitely GOW3, GT5, Alan Wake, Halo: Reach, Fable 3 and SCC. Personally, I would call it even if The Last Guardian gets a 2010 release, but 360 currently has the edge.

[ZombieAutopsy]

If anything it would be more like a good year for everyone...unlike last year.

[nogolis]

Yeah, cos let us all face it... The new kind of RPG is just so much better, right Gameinformer? Right Gamespot? You know, the ones without towns and maps set up like rooms... Enter (A) branch (B) Exit (C) ... And Final Fantasy's stories are never convuluded and boring, right? Please. Final Fantasy's blow goat ass compared to WKC. I've played only an hour or maybe a bit more of this game so far but it's absolutly 8.75 and nothing less.

I've only really ever loved 1 RPG series and that was Suikoden... This isn't Suikoden, but it's about the best thing I've played in this genre since. It is an RPG. A traditional one at heart but its roots branch out and touch Adventure, MMO and even a bit of the Action genres too. This isn't Final Fantasy... This is better. It's absolutley better.

These people are Dong Bangers.

[SiteNblog Defender]

That's the thing. You only played it for an hour. play it for 20 hours and see if you don't get bored.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Flipity Flop Flop

[hanzai]

I'd rather judge the game for myself, thanks.

[englandsbest316]

by ps3 2010 exclusive games standards.

[Michael-Jackson]

Technically this is a 2008 game...but still.

[Snert]

360 taking over what? They haven't done sh!t this year so far. Mass Effect is a multi-platform game which will eventually come out on ps3. Sony takes chances & risks, that's why their lineup is so different & diverse. While 360 is getting the same games all over again & again.

[englandsbest316]

Infamous= Just another sandbox game.

LBP= User generated content hs been around for many years.

Killzone= Just another FPS.

Heavy Rain= Shenmue wannabe.

Where are all these risks and that diversity that you are referring to?

[TheTruth2009]

Don't bring up PS3 Games of 2009.
Don't bring up Microsoft and RROD.
Dont tell us that "The Last Remnant" and other RPG's fell short.

Save it.

You touted your lineup to be "AAA" all of 2009. No XBOX360 Fan on this website made those claims about ANY of the titles that you're trying to use as ammunition. Bottom line is, White Knight Chronicles is awful. Look at my history and I've been trying to tell you that for months.

But you STILL wouldn't listen.

Now, you'll have to feel the wrath of the XBOX360 Fans on this website. If PS3 Fans would learn to shut their mouths, you wouldn't have to pay the price when it blows up in your faces. You do it over and over and over again. It has to be tiring to be wrong that often.

So let's recap, shall we?

THE 2010 PLAYSTATION 3 MEDIOCRE YEAR CHECKLIST
M.A.G. (Will flop in reviews and sales.) CHECK!
White Knight Chronicles (Bad reviews.) CHECK!
God of War III (Unimpressive.) CHECK!
Heavy Rain (Next victim...)
Modnation Racers
Gran Turismo 5
Yakuza 3

NO. ONE. CARES.

Playstation 3 sucks. Sorry.

And Microsoft is poised to obliterate the Playstation Franchise in 2010.

FOR GOOD.

The best part is... Playstation is doing it to itself.

Just wait until Fall. Ugh...

[Admiral_Benson]

Yawn.

Still recycling the same old rhetoric "Truth"?

"Now, you'll have to feel the wrath of the XBOX360 Fans on this website" - Hahaha, Oh no! Not angry 360 fanboy nerds!? We're really $hitting our pants now! /s

Get out of mommie's basement for a change, get some sunlight, fresh air, go for a run, do some pushups or something. You seems to have an overwhelming wealth of pent up aggression. Anyone would think that Ken Kutaragi and Kaz had come to your house took a dump on your pillow and beaten your dog to death with a PS3 based on your level of hatred for all things Sony.

YOU'RE.TRULY.PATHETIC

[Snert]

Do you not overstand what diversity means? Most of Sony's exclusives are different from one another & they are new ip's, get it through your mothaf!cken head.

[dtrain21]

Does not look good for Fony....I mean Sony. Good thing I have a 360

[englandsbest316]

Diverse rip offs.... YES, origional, new and risk taking?...... NO.

[Ryuk]

The only thing that can flop harder than a ps3 exclusive is.....another ps3 exclusive LMAO!!! First F.A.G now this and soon heavy rain, when that too flops at the box office in a few weeks haha!!

[Snert]

Anybody with some common sense knows that a game like Heavy Rain is a risk taking game on sony's part, but I'm glad they did it. Now listen up, I ain't here to lick your stank a$$, I don't care what you say, those games are diverse & plus I don't see 360 trying something new, probably cause they can't, recognize that.

[ironmonkey]

i ignored reviews yrs ago and make my own choices when buying games. gta4 got a 10/10 and i thought it was going to be the best game ever well after a week of playing it, i hated it. reviews may be important to some people but they also shouldn't be taken seriously also. be ur own reviewer.

[SDF Repellent]

Yea, tell that to the thousands that was unfortunate enough to ignore reviews and gave away $60 for HAZE, Too Human, and Lair.

[Lucreto]

I bought Haze and Lair. They are good games not astounding but I enjoyed them.

I am playing The Saboteur at the moment and I an enjoying it even with the fair reviews it got.

[xXKingofStingXx]

I wasn't expecting great things from this game other than a solid JRPG affair with some MMO elements peppered in but man, the big boy reviews have been pretty rough...oh well it's not the end of the world...

[Hidden Star]

The game is almost two years old anyways, I don't understand how anyone could be angry at the review score. It didn't get great scores in Japan either.